By Margie M. Palmer | SDUN Reporter

The Save Our Heritage Organization held a series of meetings this month regarding a proposal to reclaim Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama for pedestrian use.

The proposal continues to draw opposition from historical preservation societies throughout the country because, while parties on both side of the debate agree that the removal of vehicular parking within the Plaza de Panama would benefit the park, the creation of a bypass road and bridge off the Cabrillo Bridge remains contentious.

Opponents of the plan, including Save Our Heritage Organisation executive director Bruce D. Coons, said the proposal is flawed on a number of fronts.

“The proposed creation of a bypass bridge off the Cabrillo Bridge is one of the worst things we’ve seen proposed for the park in 50 years,” Coons said. “We should be exploring something that has the lowest impact to the park, but the [proposal] impacts everything.”

The Washington, D.C.-based Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition (NHPC) agrees.

“These plans will destroy and impact forever the architectural and cultural integrity of this treasured historic landmark of California,” wrote NHPC Communications Assistant Leigh Ivey in a Jan. 23 communication. “There is showno possible mitigation for such an adverse effect.”

However, proponents of the plan, which include a number of the Park’s museums, point to the benefits of reclaiming pedestrian-use only space within the Plaza.

“Getting cars off the Prado and Plaza and additional parking are extremely important to the visitor experience in Balboa Park,” wrote San Diego Natural History Museum president and CEO Michael W. Hager, in a Jan. 11 letter
of support to the Plaza de Panama Committee.

And Sea World San Diego president John T. Reilly said that because the change would eliminate dangerous conflicts between cars and pedestrians that it would help improve Balboa Park’s ability to attract visitors.

“[This] vision will significantly improve Balboa Park for both tourists and residents,” “Reilly wrote in a Mar. 31 letter of support for the plan. “I believe it is important that any changes to Balboa Park improve the visitor experience. Removing cars from the core of the Park will go a long way to accomplish this.” 

Despite the many organizations discussing the matter. San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria, whose district includes Balboa Park, is remaining quiet.

“Because the councilmember will have to vote on the project at a future City Council meeting, he will not take a position of support or opposition to a specific proposal until a hearing during which proponents and opponents can make their case,” said District 3 deputy chief of staff Katie Keach.

Keach, however, added that Councilmember Gloria has demanded the reclamation of the Plaza de Panama follow a thorough public review process, which would “enable San Diegans to weigh in and have their concerns addressed. He encourages anyone who loves Balboa Park to participate in the process to ensure that the final proposal is worthy of the Park and something that will add value to our City’s crown jewel.